Smoking pipe

ABSTRACT

A smoking pipe of a stainless-steel, modular, slip-fit design having an external sealing system comprising a plurality of elastomeric sleeves which sealably interconnect the components of the modular design. The smoking pipe is compact, lightweight and can be readily dissembled for ease of transport and storage. Further, the smoking pipe is dishwasher safe, is easy to clean and can be safely sterilized by conventional means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to smoking devices. Moreparticularly, the invention concerns a smoking pipe in which the smokeis drawn from a smoking material receiving bowl through water and theninto a mouthpiece into the mouth of the user.

[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0004] Smoking devices in which the smoke from the smoking material isdrawn through water before inhaling are not new. These types of smokingdevices, which are sometimes called “water pipes”, have been in usethroughout the world for many years.

[0005] A common type of prior art water pipe comprises aliquid-accumulating glass flask having a mouthpiece associated with theupper portion thereof. A pipette or tube typically extends into theflask to a point above the bottom thereof. Disposed at the top of thepipette is a smoke-receiving bowl. The glass flask is usually providedwith an opening that sealably receives an apertured rubber stopper whichaccepts the pipette in a manner to provide an air tight seal between thepipette and the flask. Exemplary of this type of apparatus is thatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,875 issued to Frost.

[0006] A common drawback of many of the prior art “water pipe” devicesis that they are quite fragile and easily broken. Another drawback isthat they are usually of a rather complex construction making themexpensive to produce. These and other drawbacks of the prior art devicesare effectively overcome by the novel apparatus of the invention whichcomprises sealably interconnected metal components that cooperate toprovide a sturdy smoking pipe that is easily transportable and is highlyreliable in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] By way of summary, the present invention comprises a novelsmoking pipe having a generally cup-shaped stainless-steel,liquid-containing chamber; a stainless-steel connector segment sealablyconnected to the liquid-containing chamber, the connector segment havinga tapered side wall and an aperture formed in the side wall; anelongated, generally cylindrically shaped, stainless-steel tubereceivable within the aperture formed in the side wall, the elongatedtube having a first end disposed within the liquid-containing chamberand a second end; a stainless-steel smoking material receiving bowlassembly removably connected to the second end of the elongated tube;and a generally cylindrically shaped, stainless-steel mouthpiecesealably connected to the connector segment.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a smokingpipe which is of a novel stainless-steel, modular, slip-fit designhaving an external sealing system comprising a plurality of elastomericsleeves which sealably interconnect the components of the modulardesign.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a smoking pipe ofthe aforementioned character that is compact and can be readilydissembled for ease of transport and storage.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a smoking pipe asdescribed in the preceding paragraph which is dishwasher safe, is easyto clean and, being heat resistant, can readily be sterilized ifdesired.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a smoking pipe ofthe unique design described in the preceding paragraphs which isextremely durable and virtually unbreakable in normal use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a generally perspective view of one form of the smokingdevice of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a generally perspective, exploded view of the smokingdevice shown in FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, oneform of the smoking pipe of the present invention is there illustratedand generally designated by the numeral 12. As best seen by referring toFIG. 2, the smoking pipe here comprises a generally cup-shaped,stainless-steel, liquid-containing component 14 having a side wall 16and a bottom wall that cooperate to define a liquid containing chamber20. Slidably interconnected to liquid containing component 14 is astainless steel connector segment 22 having a tapered side wall 24.Tapered side wall 24 interconnects and spans a first, generallycylindrically shaped skirt portion 26 that telescopically receives thegenerally cylindrically shaped wall 16 of the liquid containingcomponent. Connected at the upper extremity of tapered side wall 24 is asecond generally cylindrically shaped skirt portion 28 which istelescopically received within an upwardly extending, generallycylindrically shaped, stainless-steel mouthpiece 30.

[0016] Tapered side wall 24 is provided with an aperture 32 whichslidably receives a generally cylindrically shaped, stainless-steel tube34 having a first portion 34 a disposed within liquid containing chamber20 (FIG. 3) and a second portion 34 b that extends angularly outwardlyfrom tapered side wall 24. Removably connected to second portion 34 b oftube 34 is the novel smoking material receiving bowl assembly of theinvention that is generally designated by the numeral 36. As best seenby referring to FIG. 3, smoking material receiving bowl assembly 36comprises a stainless-steel body 38 having an upper portion providedwith a tapered smoking material receiving chamber 40 and a lower portionprovided with a counter bore 42 for closely receiving the end of secondportion 34 b of elongated tube 34. Importantly, body 38 is constructedof a single piece of material, has no threads and is virtuallyindestructible. Accordingly, the smoking material receiving bowlassembly is unique and comprises a substantial improvement over theprior art.

[0017] With the modular components of the smoking pipe assembled in themanner shown in FIG. 3, a first sealing means is provided for sealablyinterconnecting liquid containing component 14 with connector segment22. This first sealing means is here provided in the form of anelastomeric sleeve 44 that is adapted to sealably span the joint betweenliquid containing component 14 and connector segment 22 in the mannershown in FIG. 3. A second sealing means is also provided for sealablyinterconnecting connector segment 22 with mouthpiece 30. The secondsealing means also comprises an elastomeric sleeve 46 that sealablyspans the joint between connector segment 22 and mouthpiece 30 in themanner shown in FIG. 3. With the modular components of the smoking pipeassembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, liquid containingcomponent 14, connector segment 22 and mouthpiece 30 are axially alignedand the components are sealably interconnected by the sealing means orelastomeric sleeves 44 and 46.

[0018] As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, tubular member 34 is sealablyconnected to connector segments 22 by a third sealing means hereprovided in the form of a generally annular shaped, elastomeric collar50. As best seen in FIG. 3, collar 50 includes a circumferentiallyextending groove 50 a which sealably receives side wall 24 and a centralopening 50 b that sealably engages the outer wall of tubular member 34.With this construction, tubular member 34 is sealably connected toconnector segment 22, but can be adjusted inwardly or outwardly toproperly position portion 34 a with respect to the liquid containedwithin chamber 20.

[0019] Provided proximate the upper portion of mouthpiece 30 is anelastomeric ring-shaped member 54 that is adapted to sealably cover themouth of the user. Additionally, a third elastomeric sleeve 56circumscribes body 38 of bowl assembly 36 to protect the fingers of theuser from being burned when the smoking material is placed withinchamber 40 and ignited.

[0020] With the construction described in the preceding paragraphs, itis apparent that the overall height of the smoking pipe can be adjustedby telescopically moving mouthpiece 30 relative to connector segment 22and by telescopically moving connector segment 22 relative to liquidcontaining component 14. It is also apparent that the smoking pipe ofthe invention can be readily dissembled for ease of transport andstorage.

[0021] Having now described the invention in detail in accordance withthe requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art willhave no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individualparts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirementsor conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth inthe following claims.

I claim:
 1. A smoking pipe comprising: (a) a liquid-containingcomponent; (b) a connector segment connected to said liquid-containingcomponent, said connector segment having a side wall and an apertureformed in said side wall; (c) an elongated tube receivable within saidaperture formed in said side wall, said elongated tube having a firstend disposed within said liquid-containing chamber and a second end; (d)a smoking material receiving bowl assembly connected to said second endof said elongated tube; and (e) a mouthpiece connected to said connectorsegment.
 2. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 in which saidconnector segment includes a generally cylindrically shaped first skirtportion and in which said liquid-containing component comprises agenerally cylindrically shaped wall telescopically received within saidfirst skirt portion.
 3. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid connector segment includes a generally cylindrically shaped secondskirt portion, said mouthpiece being telescopically receivable over saidsecond skirt portion.
 4. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid smoking material receiving bowl assembly comprises a tubular bodytelescopically received within said aperture formed in said side wall ofsaid connector segment.
 5. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 inwhich said liquid-containing component, said connector segment and saidmouthpiece are axially aligned.
 6. The smoking pipe as defined in claim1 in which said smoking material receiving bowl assembly is receivablyconnected to said elongated tube.
 7. The smoking pipe as defined inclaim 1 further including first sealing means connected to said liquidcontaining component and said connector segment for sealablyinterconnecting said liquid containing component and said connectorsegment.
 8. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 further includingsecond sealing means connected to said connector segment and saidmouthpiece for sealably interconnecting said connector segment with saidmouthpiece.
 9. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 1 further includingsealing means connected to said elongated tube for sealablyinterconnecting said elongated tube with said connector segment.
 10. Thesmoking pipe as defined in claim 1 in which said smoking materialreceiving bowl assembly having: (a) a body having an upper portion and alower portion, said upper portion having a smoking material receivingchamber; and (b) a counter bore formed in said lower portion of saidbody for receiving said second end of said elongated tube.
 11. A smokingpipe comprising: (a) a generally cup-shaped liquid-containing componenthaving a side wall and a bottom wall connected to said side wall todefine a liquid containing chamber; (b) a connector segment slidablyconnected to said liquid-containing component, said connector segmenthaving a tapered side wall and an aperture formed in said side wall; (c)a generally cylindrically shaped, elongated tube receivable within saidaperture formed in said tapered side wall, said elongated tube having afirst end disposed within said liquid-containing chamber and a secondend; (d) a smoking material receiving bowl assembly removably connectedto said second end of said elongated tube; (e) a generally cylindricallyshaped mouthpiece slidably connected to said connector segment; (f)first sealing means for sealably interconnecting said liquid containingcomponent with said connector segment; and (g) second sealing means forsealably interconnecting said connector segment and said mouthpiece. 12.The smoking pipe as defined in claim 11 further including third sealingmeans connected to said elongated tube for sealably interconnecting saidelongated tube and said connector segment.
 13. The smoking pipe asdefined in claim 11 in which said smoking material receiving bowlassembly comprises: (a) a body having an upper portion and a lowerportion, said upper portion having a smoking material receiving chamber;and (b) a counter bore formed in said lower portion of said body forreceiving said second end of said elongated tube.
 14. The smoking pipeas defined in claim 11 in which each of said liquid containing chambers,said connector segment and said elongated tube are all constructed fromstainless steel.
 15. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 11 in whicheach of said first and second sealing means comprises an elastomericsleeve.
 16. A smoking pipe comprising: (a) a generally cup-shaped,stainless-steel, liquid-containing component having a side wall and abottom wall connected to said side wall to define a liquid containingchamber; (b) a stainless-steel connector segment slidably connected tosaid liquid-containing component, said connector segment having atapered side wall and an aperture formed in said side wall; (c) agenerally cylindrically shaped, stainless-steel elongated tube slidablyreceivable within said aperture formed in said tapered side wall, saidelongated tube having a first end disposed within said liquid-containingchamber and a second end; (d) a smoking material receiving bowl assemblyremovably connected to said second end of said elongated tube saidsmoking material receiving assembly comprising: (i) a stainless-steelbody having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portionhaving a smoking material receiving chamber; and (ii) a counter boreformed in said lower portion of said body for receiving said second endof said elongated tube; (e) a generally cylindrically shaped,stainless-steel mouthpiece slidably connected to said connector segment.(f) first sealing means for sealably interconnecting said liquidcontaining component with said connector segment, said first sealingmeans comprising a first elastomeric sleeve; (g) second sealing meansfor sealably interconnecting said connector segment with saidmouthpiece, said second sealing means comprising a second elastomericsleeve; and (h) third sealing means connected to said elongated tube forsealably interconnecting said elongated tube with said connectorsegment.
 17. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 15 in which saidliquid-containing chamber, said connector segment and said mouthpieceare axially aligned.
 18. The smoking pipe as defined in claim 15 inwhich said elongated tube extends angularly outwardly with respect tosaid tapered side wall of said connector segment.